Improvement in compounds for lining gas-retorts



IINITED STATES A fiATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN G. WELLMAN, OF BROOKPORT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPOUNDS FOR LINING GAS-RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,228, dated December 29,1874 application filed November 19, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN G. WELLMAN, of Brockport, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Composition for Lining Gas-Retorts 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a coating for the interior of gas-retorts, the object of which is to prevent the sticking and adhering of the residuum, and to improve the quality, of the gas; and my invention consists of a compound composed of clay, wood ashes, and lime, combined and applied in the manner hereinafter described.

The drawing represents a cross-section of a gas-retort with my improvement.

In carrying out my invention I take of fireclay, wood-ashes, and lime, in about the proportions of four-eighths of clay, three-eighths of ashes, and one-eighth of lime; but the proportions may be varied, if desirable. I first sift the materials, so as to use only the finest quality. I then miX them together, and stir them up, and afterward add water till the mass is reduced to the consistency of paste. I then apply the compound to the interior of the re tort by a swab, brush, trowel, or otherwise, till the whole surface is covered. The covering may be made of any desired thickness, and smoothed off.

When heat is applied to the retort this lining hardens and vitrifies, and will not crack nor peel off. It forms, in fact, a perfectly-hard covering, which will endure heat, and is much more effective than the natural surface of the retort.

I find from experiment that the residuum which is produced by the distillation of coal will not stick or adhere to this surface, but will scale and fall off, and can be easily removed by pushing or pulling out with suitable tools. It obviates the great diflieulty which has heretofore been experienced from the adhesion of the residuum to the natural surface of the retort. This residuum bakes and cakes in place, and requires frequent cleanin g and much labor to remove it. It frequently clings so closely that sharp tools are required to chip it from place. My improvement avoids all difiiculty of this kind, as the material will not adhere to the artificial surface. In addition to the above, the joints of the retort are all closed, and a better surface is produced. The qualities of the gas areimproved, the carbon uniting more intimately with the gaseous elements.

I am-aware that the interior of gas-retorts has been lined with fire-clay, and that they have also been lined with a compound made of clay, sand, an d borax, but such is not claimed by me; but i I Having thus described my invention, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A coating or lining for the interior of gasretorts composed of fire-clay, Wood-ashes, and lime, combined in the proportions herein described, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto'signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN G. WELLMAN.

Witnesses: V R. F. Oseoon, W. A. LoDnR. 

